Family of man slain during police chase question why officers had to shoot him

The family of a man shot to death by police after a low-speed chase through the western suburbs said Wednesday that he likely suffered from delusions or diabetic shock behind the wheel, and they questioned the use of deadly force.

Patty Mojziszek said her ex-husband, Dan Mojziszek, 52, had been treated twice at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital last weekend for dangerously low blood-sugar levels. She also said he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental disorder characterized by psychosis and mood swings.

Dan Mojziszek was supposed to take insulin for his diabetes and medication for his mental illness, but he often took neither, she said. Patty Mojziszek said this could explain why police found him driving erratically and ignoring "numerous verbal commands" before they opened fire Monday night near the border of Northlake and Stone Park.

Mojziszek, however, had a long history of traffic incidents. His license was revoked in 1991, and he was convicted of DUI five times and received seven citations for driving on a revoked license, according to secretary of state spokesman Dave Drucker. Mojziszek wasn't eligible to get his license back, he said.

In 2004, Mojziszek was charged with aggravated fleeing from a police officer in Elmhurst after a high-speed chase. In 2005, he was charged with the same crime in Villa Park, after which he was sentenced to five years in prison but was released early.

The Cook County state's attorney's public integrity unit is investigating the incident, which began in Franklin Park when officers tried to stop Mojziszek for erratic driving, police said.